FLORIDA HIGH SPEED RAIL FEIS REEVALUATION 

APPENDIX A: 

BASIS FOR FEIS REEVALUATION TECHNICAL 

MEMORANDUM 

FLORIDA HIGH SPEED RAIL FEIS REEVALUATION 

APPENDIX A A-1 May 2010

BASIS FOR FEIS REEVALUATION TECHNICAL MEMORANDUM 

DRAFT JUNE 29, 2009 

MILESTONES COMPLETED FOR NEPA AND FDOT PD&E 

The Florida High Speed Rail Tampa to Orlando project milestones completed to date: 

• Notice of Intent: March 2002 

• Advance Notification and Scoping: April 2002 

• Draft EIS and Public Hearings: October 2003 

• Final EIS Signed and circulated by FRA and FHSRA: July 2005 

• Project suspended in 2005 before Record of Decision (ROD) issued 

Florida Department of Transportation Planning Development and Environmental Manual, 

Chapter 13: Reevaluations (consistent with 23 CFR 771) requires that projects be reevaluated in 

the following circumstances. 

• Approval of document and authorization of the next phase is greater than one year 

• A major change in the projects location or design has occurred (not applicable for FHSR 

Tampa to Orlando) 

• If more than three (3) years have lapsed since last major approval 

The FHSR project is “grandfathered” under the FDOT ETDM process, as the Notice of Intent 

and Advanced Notification were issued prior to August 11, 2005. 

QUALITATIVE ASSESSMENT 

Since the publication of the Florida High Speed Rail Tampa to Orlando Final Environmental 

Impact Statement, July 2005 existing conditions in the corridor and changes to the project 

definition have occurred. While the project remains basically the same with similar 

environmental consequences as documented in the approved FEIS 2005, FDOT has undertaken a 

qualitative assessment of the project to determine the level of assessment to be made to complete 

the NEPA/PD&E process and allow the issuance of a Record of Decision (ROD). 

Tables A-1 and A-2 summarize the assessment of the need for changes in the project definition 

and the potential environmental consequences. 

RECOMMENDED ACTION – FEIS REEVALUATION 

The qualitative analysis, summarized in Tables A-1 and A-2 below, indicates that minor changes 

in the project definition may be required and the resulting environmental consequences are 

anticipated to be minimal. Therefore, FDOT recommends that an FEIS Reevaluation be prepared 

for the preferred alternative, focusing on areas that have changed since the 2005 FEIS. 

Supporting public and agency involvement will be conducted throughout the process. The 

Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) concurred that an FEIS Reevaluation is required during a 

coordination meeting with FDOT and FHWA on June 12, 2009. 
FLORIDA HIGH SPEED RAIL FEIS REEVALUATION

May 2010 A-2

SUMMARY OF PROJECT DEFINITION CHANGES 

Since the publication of the Florida High Speed Rail Tampa to Orlando Final Environmental 

Impact Statement, July 2005 existing conditions in the corridor and the need to make changes to 

the project definition have occurred. The assessment of project definition changes was 

undertaken through the following: 

 Windshield field review by Parsons and PBS&J staff the week of May 18, 2009 

 Overlay of engineering drawings on 2008 aerial base (See Engineering Drawings) 

 Review of FHSR plans, profiles and typical sections 

The review of proposed and as-built plans will be done during conceptual engineering for the 

FEIS Reevaluation. Coordination will be conducted with FDOT Districts 7, 1 and 5, the 

Turnpike Enterprise, Hillsborough, Polk and Osceola Counties and the cities along the corridor 

to define existing and planned conditions in the corridor. Table 1 summarizes the changes in 

conditions and the potential impact on the project definition. Shaded rows indicate locations 

where notable changes have occurred. 

TABLE A-1: Summary of Changes in Preferred Alternative Project Definition

Project Description Changes Engineering 

Sheet #S 

Action Required 

FEIS TERMINI AND STATIONS

Tampa - downtown Tampa between 

Tampa St. and Marion St. 

Terminal will remain at Tampa 

intermodal site 

Property for station has been 

purchased by FDOT for intermodal 

use. 

40 Continued coordination with 

TBARTA/FDOT/HART 

Lakeland Area Polk County Pkwy. site was FEIS 

preferred alternative. 

Kathleen Rd. option 

New USF Campus site 

91 

100, 101 

91 

Potential new station site to be 

assessed. 

Walt Disney World (WDW) Site on WDW property may no 

longer available, Median site 

remains available. 

163-164 Continued coordination with 

WDW 

Orange County Convention Center 

(OCCC) 

Station to connect to intermodal 

parking structure 

178-179 Continued coordination with 

OCCC 

Orlando - Orlando International Airport Terminal will remain at OIA 

Station at existing terminal 

included in OIA plan. 

201-202 Continued coordination with 

OIA / GOAA 
FLORIDA HIGH SPEED RAIL FEIS REEVALUATION 

A-3 May 2010

TABLE A-1: Summary of Changes in Preferred Alternative Project Definition

Project Description Changes Engineering 

Sheet #S 

Action Required 

ALIGNMENT

I-4/I-275 Interchange to I-75 

FEIS Corridors A and B 

I-4 completely rebuilt to 

accommodate ultimate I-4 typical 

section. Only General Use lanes 

constructed. Median reserves 44’ 

for HSR. 

43-48 Check FHSR horizontal and 

vertical alignments against asbuilt conditions. 

New I-275 SB flyover ramp to I-4 

EB at I-275/I-4 Interchange 

42 Check FHSR horizontal and 

vertical alignments against asbuilt conditions. 

19TH Street closed and ramp 

configuration at 21st/22nd

interchange reconstructed 

43, 44 Check FHSR horizontal and 

vertical alignments against asbuilt conditions. 

 40th Street Interchange removed 46 Check FHSR bridge lengths. 

Existing I-4 bridge over CSX left in 

place (sta. 6130) 

45 Check FHSR horizontal and 

vertical alignments against asbuilt conditions. 

Columbus Ave. realigned under I4 and interchange reconfigured 

47, 48 Check FHSR horizontal and 

vertical alignments against asbuilt conditions. 

 All I-4 EB &WB bridges replaced 43 through 58 Check FHSR horizontal and 

vertical alignments against asbuilt conditions. 

Interchanges at Martin Luther 

Kings Blvd., Orient Rd., SR92, SR 

301 rebuilt and reconfigured 

50, 52 through 55 Check FHSR horizontal and 

vertical alignments against asbuilt conditions. 

Future Crosstown Connector 

Interchange 

44, 45 Check FHSR horizontal and 

vertical alignments against 

plans. 

I-4 from I-75 to Polk Parkway W. 

FEIS Corridor C 

New developments at existing 

interchanges 

61, 64, 65, 68, 84, 

85 

Update developments adjacent 

to alignment. 

Crossroad bridges over I-4 have 

been replaced 

58A through 61 Check FHSR horizontal and 

vertical alignments against asbuilt conditions. 

New interchange and frontage 

roads between Kingsway Rd. and 

McIntosh Rd. (sta. 1725 – 1800) 

63 through 66 Existing interchange and 

frontage roads would need to 

be reconstructed to 

accommodate FHSR, and 

Ultimate I-4 typical section as 

median width is insufficient. 
FLORIDA HIGH SPEED RAIL FEIS REEVALUATION

May 2010 A-4

TABLE A-1: Summary of Changes in Preferred Alternative Project Definition

Project Description Changes Engineering 

Sheet #S 

Action Required 

I-4 from Polk Parkway W. to US192 

FEIS Corridor D 

I-4/Lakeland Memorial Blvd. 

Interchange reconstructed and 

reconfigured 

95, 96 Check FHSR horizontal and 

vertical alignments against asbuilt conditions. 

Existing RR bridge (sta. 2713+40 

does not provide median width for 

FHSR 

99 I-4 and RR bridge would need 

to be rebuilt. 

I-4/CR35A Interchange 

reconstructed and reconfigured to 

tight diamond 

99, 100 Check FHSR horizontal and 

vertical alignments against asbuilt conditions. 

I-4/SR98 Interchange 

reconstructed and reconfigured to 

single point diamond 

101, 102, 103 Check FHSR horizontal and 

vertical alignments against asbuilt conditions. 

I-4 Interchange ramps to Socrum 

Loop Rd. and SR33 reconstructed 

and reconfigured 

105, 106 Update FHSR plans. 

New developments and 

stormwater ponds at interchanges 

and adjacent to corridor 

99, 100, 101, 107, 

110, 111, 112, 116, 

125, 145, 146, 152 

through 154 

Update FHSR plans. 

Many reconstructed bridges over 

I-4 

92, 95, 96, 97, 99, 

101, 104, 107, 119, 

120, 128, 145, 149, 

153, 154, 162, 163 

Check FHSR horizontal and 

vertical alignments against asbuilt conditions. 

Insufficient median width under 

SR559 overpass 

125, 126 I-4 and SR559 overpass need 

to be reconstructed. 

I-4/US 27 Interchange 

reconstructed and reconfigured 

144, 145 Update FHSR plans. 

New Tradition Blvd. overpass 

north of CR 532 Interchange 

153 Check FHSR horizontal and 

vertical alignments against asbuilt conditions. 

New SR 429/I-4 Interchange north 

of CR 532 (sta. 4255+00) 

153 through 155 Check FHSR horizontal and 

vertical alignments against asbuilt conditions. 

I-4/US192 Interchange ramps 

reconstructed and reconfigured 

162 through 164 Check FHSR horizontal and 

vertical alignments against asbuilt conditions. 

New braided ramp between US 

192 and Osceola Parkway with 

realignment of I-4 typical section 

to the north 

163 through 165 Check FHSR horizontal and 

vertical alignments against 

plans. 
FLORIDA HIGH SPEED RAIL FEIS REEVALUATION 

A-5 May 2010

TABLE A-1: Summary of Changes in Preferred Alternative Project Definition

Project Description Changes Engineering 

Sheet #S 

Action Required 

US 192 to OIA via Beachline Expwy, 

Taft-Vineland Rd., OUC RR 

FEIS Corridor E

New Westwood Connector Rd. 

over Beachline Expwy at Orange 

County Convention Center 

177 Check FHSR horizontal and 

vertical alignments against asbuilt conditions. 

Developments adjacent to 

proposed ROW 

180, 181, 183-185, 

192 

Update FHSR plans. 

Orlando area: SR528 Orlando 

International Airport corridor 

changes 

201-202 Check FHSR horizontal and 

vertical alignments against asbuilt conditions. 

OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE 

FACILITY 

Property has been developed 192-193 

198-199 

Continued coordination with 

OIA / GOAA to select site 

RIDERSHIP Changed conditions from 2003 n/a Update 

FINANCIAL PLAN AND COSTS Changed conditions from 2003 n/a Update 

TECHNOLOGY Changes since 2004 n/a Update 

Source: Parsons, PBS&J June 2009 

SUMMARY OF CHANGES IN ENVIRONMENTAL CONSEQUENCES 

Since the publication of the Florida High Speed Rail Tampa to Orlando Final Environmental 

Impact Statement, July 2005 existing conditions in the corridor and changes to the project 

definition have occurred that need to be evaluated for their potential environmental impacts. The 

assessment of potential changes in environmental impacts was undertaken through the following: 

 Windshield field review by Parsons and PBS&J staff the week of May 18, 2009 

 Review of 2005 Final EIS 

 Review of FHSR plans on 2008 aerials 

 Consideration of changes in regulatory environmental guidance 

Table A-2 summarizes the changes in environmental effects from the 2005 FEIS and the actions 

required. Shaded rows indicate measures where updates or revised analyses may be required. 

TABLE A-2: Summary of Changes in Environmental Consequences 

Measure Change in Effect 

From 2005 FEIS 

Description and 

Commitment # 

Action Required 

COMMUNITY IMPACTS 

Community Cohesion No change - None 

Community and Land Use Impacts Potential minor change New developments in 

corridor 

Update 

Economic Impacts No change - None 
FLORIDA HIGH SPEED RAIL FEIS REEVALUATION

May 2010 A-6

TABLE A-2: Summary of Changes in Environmental Consequences 

Measure Change in Effect 

From 2005 FEIS 

Description and 

Commitment # 

Action Required 

Safety and Public Health No change FDOT MOA concerning 

median barrier (17) 

Coordinate with 

FDOT/FHWA/FRA 

Relocation and Right-of-Way Impacts Potential minor change Changes in horizontal 

and vertical alignment, 

and station sites 

Update 

Environmental Justice No change - None 

Archeological and Historical Resources No change (1, 2) Coordinate with SHPO, 

Barrio Latino 

Recreation and Parkland Potential minor change Perry Harvey Sr. Park, 

Tampa (3) 

Coordinate with City of 

Tampa 

Secondary and Cumulative Impacts No change - None 

NATURAL AND PHYSICAL IMPACTS 

Visual/Aesthetic No change (23) None 

Air Quality No change - None 

Noise Potential minor change Changes in alignment, 

technology (12) 

Revise noise analysis 

Vibration Potential minor change Changes in alignment, 

technology (13) 

Revise vibration analysis 

Wetlands Potential minor change Changes in existing 

conditions due to 

reconstruction of I-4. (9 

Update 

Aquatic Preserves No change - None 

Water Quality No change FDEP regulations (20, 

21, 26) 

Update 

Outstanding Florida Waters No change - None 

Contamination Potential minor change (14) Update 

Wild and Scenic Rivers No change - None 

Floodplain and Floodway Impact No change FDEP regulations Update 

Coastal Zone Consistency No change - None 

Coastal Barrier Resources No change - None 

Wildlife and Habitat No change FDEP requirements (4-

11, 16) 

Update 

Farmlands No change - None 

Energy Potential minor change Technology requirements Update 

Utilities Potential minor change - Update 
FLORIDA HIGH SPEED RAIL FEIS REEVALUATION 

A-7 May 2010

TABLE A-2: Summary of Changes in Environmental Consequences 

Measure Change in Effect 

From 2005 FEIS 

Description and 

Commitment # 

Action Required 

TRANSPORTATION 

Freight Rail Operations Impacts No change - None 

Highway Operations Impacts Potential minor change Operations in median, 

roadway improvements 

(15, 17, 18, 19) 

Update 

Ridership and Revenue Potential Moderate Update 

Other Travel Mode Impacts 

Station Access and Traffic Impacts Potential minor change Changes at station sites 

since FEIS 

Update 

CONSTRUCTION No change (17, 22, 25) None 

SHORT TERM USES VS LONG TERM 

PRODUCTIVITY 

No change - None 

IRREVERSIBLE AND IRRETRIEVABLE 

COMMITMENT OF RESOURCES 

No change - None 

MITIGATION COMMITMENTS Potential minor change Current regulatory 

requirements 

Coordinate with agencies 

REQUIRED PERMITS Potential minor change Current requirements Update 

SECTION 4(f) EVALUATION No change (3) None 

Source: Parsons, PBS&J June 2009